Mining bill is toxic for Wisconsin |Letter

A new bill in Wisconsin could allow for a gold mine to open near the Eau Claire Dells.
Laura Schulte/ USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

This photo shows the Flambeau mine during its operation from 1993 to 1997. Metallic mining has seen little activity in Wisconsin after the Flambeau Mining Co. ore mine closed in 1997 after four years of operation. The site was reclaimed in 1999.(Photo: Courtesty of the Wisconsin Department of Natural, Wisconsin Department of Natural)

Sulfide mining, America’s most toxic industry per the EPA, is extremely destructive mining that generates drainage that makes a toxic acid soup of things. Leaked into or seeped into groundwater or surface water, and we poison ourselves, our fisheries and our wildlife. All to try to extract a small percentage of copper, nickel, gold or silver from sulfide ore.

Foreign mining interests could care less about whether or not our waters are protected or if our future is healthy.

Our state legislators, including Sen. Patrick Testin and other members of the Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage, Mining, and Forestry, need to put our waters and our children first by voting against Senate Bill 395.

What will our children’s future be like? Will they care that a few jobs were created in 2018 or will they care that state leaders over the years of proud Wisconsin history have ensured that they have clean water to drink and a healthy place to grow up and raise their own families?